The Artesia Police Department says a recent spike in 911 hang-ups may be due to AT&T’s recent Alltel acquisition. The increase in hang-up calls has been tying up emergency lines and affecting personnel.

The Eddy County Central Communications Authority received 47 hang-ups from March 21 to March 28; with 19 of those calls attributable to cell phones formerly serviced with the recently-extinct network. Those numbers are up from the average – the ECCCA answers about 35 911 hang-ups in a seven-day period.

Even if a phone is no longer in service, it has the capabilities to make emergency phone calls. Police are required to investigate all 911 calls, legitimate or accidental, as long as they have an address to go to, according to Sgt. Lindell Smith of the Artesia Police Department. … For the rest of the story, subscribe in print and on the web.